At the age of 16 (1984) I was in a hospital ward of 6 men. We were next to the Fire Exit, so 2 smokers used to regularly "shuffle out to the top of the stairs".

One guy was admitted who stated he wasn't on any medication. He was given some stuff that induced an epileptic fit, because the idiot had failed to state he was taking steroids for 'body building;.

Then the patients Christmas time drinks involved leaving cans of beer on the outside window ledge "to chill".

I cannot berate anyone. We all have our baggage to carry.

As a motorbike rider I once gave a pillion lift to someone with a broken leg (in cast) to the pub, and back.

I disengage, I turn the page.

having been in the building trade for over 35 years I've known a lot of very heavy drinkers (myself included Unfortunatly)
Whilst I still drink too much, its nowhere near as bad as it used to be.
Anyway some of my drinking is pretty small potatoes compared to some ive known, when it was less frowned on & lunchtime pub was pretty much normal.
The brother of a mate of mine was known for putting away in the region of 100 drinks at the weekend, starting from friday night, through sat & sunday pub sessions.
This would entail 10 pints fri eve, sat lunch, sat eve, sunday lunch, sunday (50 pints) and misc other drinks (wine & spirits) to make up the other 50 drinks.
He also smoked & had a penchant for speed & spliff.
Been dead many years now.
2 guys that painted for me have died at 40 & 50.
One killed by smoking(blocked artery) and the other substance abuse.
Older guys i worked with in the 70s & 80s had favourable publicans that theyd knock the window at 8am & be let in to down one or two swift pints as liveners.
the buggers even worked this ploy with a local curry house that would rustle up curry for breakfast for them.
Dead also.
One of the things that has got worse is the use of weed in the building trade, the amount of times a van goes past , or youre in a merchants & fellas are reeking of it.

Kids,tired of being bothered by your pesky parents?
Then leave home, get a job & pay your own bills, while you still know everything.

Winston Churchill drank and smoked all day, every day .... lived into his 90's

Same as my uncle.

Then other people keel over from nothing. Medical life isn't fair.

As for booze. Ever seen the life-expectancy of men in Russia ?

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

I have the world's worst hangover today, probably can't comment on this thread too much.

Red and Blue Army!

I think we all have addiction stories, and it is important not to glorify them.
My mate's dad was a heavy drinker, and it killed him. My mate rarely drank after that. It clarifies things.

Also had mates go down the mental health route because of addiction to weed. That stopped me from ever touching the stuff, again.

Life isn't fair, but you can better your chances by not doing $hIt.

I disengage, I turn the page.

Top shelf mix ain't good.
One or the other. Need a hair of the dog mate. Get a krony down ya neck.